SAUDIS LIKE SOLAR, DISS BIOFUELS

Saudi Arabia’s oil exports are the biggest in the world. Short on water, however, it is not expected to be a big biofuels producer. The oil minister's recent remarks about biofuels, therefore, come as no surprise.

Ali al-Naimi, Oil Minister, Saudi Arabia: "Biofuels are not the solution…"

He’s right, of course. He expanded further on his views about the future of energy: “…we have to look beyond biofuels... and concentrate instead on truly renewable sources of energy…"

Nice to hear, eh? What does Saudi Arabia like for energy’s future? Solar, something Saudi Arabia has a little of. Good for them! The oil minister’s remarks are a welcome addition to the growing chorus of affirmation for New Energy.

One thing Saudi Arabia might have even more of than oil is sand. Sand is mostly silica. Silica is the raw material for silicon, photovoltaic solar panels’ key ingredient.

Al-Naimi: "For our part we are giving [solar] energy special attention…"

No doubt.

Plenty of sun. (click to enlarge)

Saudi oil minister slams biofuels, favors solar energy
Muriel Boselli (w/Margaret Orgill), April 10, 2008 (Reuters)

WHO
Ali al-Naimi, Oil Minister, Saudi Arabia

Saudi oil minister al-Naimi. (click to enlarge)

WHAT
Al-Naimi expressed doubt about the value of biofuels and extolled the importance of developing solar energy.

WHEN
- Al-Naimi’s remarks were made April 10 at an oil conference in Paris.
- Saudi Arabia’s research and development in solar energy goes back to the 1960’s.

Sun could turn twilight into high noon. (click to enlarge)

WHERE
Al-Naimi observed that solar energy is not only clean and renewable but everywhere and available to everybody.

WHY
- Al-Naimi asserted that the rise in biofuel use is driven by government subsidies, high import taxes and financial favoritism.
- Al-Naimi extolled the potential of solar energy across the economic spectrum of sectors, from power generation to manufacturing.
- The oil minister pointed out the cost of solar energy is still to high to be market competitive.

It all starts with silica and silica comes from sand. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
Ali al-Naimi, Oil Minister, Saudi Arabia: "Let's be realistic, ethanol and biofuels will not contribute to the protection of the global environment by reducing (carbon dioxide) emissions, they will not increase energy security, nor will they reduce dependency on fossil fuels to any appreciable degree…"